Teen harm Concern Over Web List

by infomatique | July 19, 2007 at 11:28 am

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Police and social workers investigating teenage suicides have visited homes in County Armagh after material was published on the internet.

BBC News understands the names of some people who have taken their own lives are included on a list.

In a statement, police and Southern Health and Social Care Trust said that the material "could make some vulnerable young people feel at risk".

"A number have been visited with advice on personal and internet safety."

It is understood the visits, which have taken place over recent days, have centred around the Armagh City area.

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Last March Bebo announced that they had replaced Google as the number one site in Ireland. That’s not totally unexpected: Bebo is the leading social network in Ireland, with 1 million of their supposed 31 million users coming from there.

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Parents and teachers at a secondary school in County Armagh have been warned to be vigilant after three classmates were found dead amid rumours of a suicide pact. The deaths of the teenagers in Laurelvale, near Portadown, occurred over the space of less than a month and raised fears about the vulnerability of youngsters.

There were claims the pupils had been logging on to internet sites or chatrooms where suicide was being discussed.

The supposed suicides prompted Michael McGimpsey, the Northern Ireland health minister, to seek talks with internet companies, such as Bebo and MySpace, about their strategy for dealing with young people who may be easily influenced by what they read and see online.